"Yeah. Tarathiel Keavyre is a hundreds-year-old elven golemancer sadist who keeps making more young women for his bodyguard harem. Really durable young women. I'm... The only one who managed to... Think around the chains. Who thinks it's fucked up. Who thinks we ought to be our own people, instead of existing for some insane pervert's whims. He always told me he made me 'fiery' and 'spunky'. Overshot a bit, the bastard. But the masochism is... Pretty close to those mental chains, metaphorically speaking."

"Ah. So it's not exactly comfortable, even if..." She trails off. "Forget I asked."

"I mean, it's not really directly- Eh. I'll save the gory details. Anyway I'd let you hurt me if there was something in it for me and even mostly enjoy it, I'd just have to - process, afterwards."

"Yeah, not really what I'm looking for." She sighs.

She's a little surprised with herself, passing up an opportunity, but - the girl is obviously messed up. She doesn't want to fuck with that.

"I'm going to kill him," she says matter-of-factly, and then takes her place to wait for the morning's training to start.

"I'd help," she replies. She takes her place as well.

"We'd both die, right now. When I hit A-rank... We'll see."

Training today includes more teamwork than yesterday! There are several other Fall Divers who come in to help with the pair training too. They're all advancing quite quickly.

Lucille is really suffering with forming any kind of aggressive intent, but only seems more determined to keep up with the combat side of things because of it.

Liath keeps up and does her part. Fighting in a group is almost completely new to her, so she has a lot to learn.

W runs off as soon as training is over.

Varrin decides to relax once they get a break for lunch by making ice sculptures using his water manipulation! They're... Pretty crude, honestly, but he's trying, tongue sticking out as he performs wavy full body motions, melting and manipulating water, trying to freeze it in just the right spot.

And Lucille asks Liath, "How do you... Be so brave?"

She grins at the ice sculptures, suppressing laughter at Varrin's attempts. 

Lucille... Deserves a thoughtful answer. 

"Long practice," she says, "and the knowledge that giving in to fear only makes things worse." 

She pauses. "It might help you if I gave you Hearts Afire for a little while so you have something to emulate. Think it's worth trying?"

"...Well I should get used to having buffs cast on me either way probably. Thank you. Should we... Get to a clear area?"

"Probably a good idea." 

She lets her move, follows her, then casts after checking again that she's okay with it.

Lucille accepts the magic, closes her eyes, takes deep breaths and thinks.

"...I understand now. I'm not afraid of being attacked. I'm afraid to hurt."

"A noble impulse. But one that'll get you killed. In order to be able to protect your party, you need to be able to defend yourself and put down threats to them."

"Yes, it does seem rather foolish to join a mercenary company and be afraid to hurt people, doesn't it?" She deflates. "And yet, 'noble is thy hand which reaches out in mercy, for when blades lock all are cut down, but when hands grasp man reaches higher'."

"I'm a strong believer in solving things with a minimum of bloodshed," says Liath. "I just don't believe the practical answer to that is always 'none'."

"I know. I'm trying. I'll have to think about this."

"I'll leave you to it." 

She goes back to her rooms and makes a couple ham sandwiches and eats them. Then it's back for the tactics class and her evening control exercises after that.

Time passes. Varrin gets better at ice sculpture. Lucille gets better at intent to harm. W keeps vanishing whenever they're not training, and can be seen arguing with one of the Liscor Guard, once.

It's been a month since she showed up here. A productive one, too. She settles into an easy rhythm with her lighter course load, blowing off steam with her Bright sex friend when need be. She buys herself some towels and toiletries: it takes the rest of her money. Still, she's content. She's learning, she's soon to be earning money, and her days are full of useful work. She's a little bit lonely, but... needs must. 

Her Bright sex friend gets a bit more demanding in the exchanges but is still happy enough to go along with pain in exchange for orgasms.

They bring out the tactical plan for mining village defense again after some theory lectures. They start refining their plans.

On the first 'off day' when there's no training, Varrin tells the other three, "I have got to get out of town for a while. Any of you three wanna go on a hunt?"

"Of monsters? If it's something easy I'd give it a try, I could use some spare cash."

"Nah, I'm thinking meat. Maybe fish. Done some reading on Liscor wildlife, and now I want to eat a rock badger!"

Lucille pipes up, "I'll help! I've been feeling bad about eating meat."

"But meat is soooo delicious, how can you hate meat?"

"I said I'll help!" Lucille answers.

"Can't eat, really," W shrugs. "And I'm busy. Count me out."

"I'll come along I guess. Save me some food costs." She cracks a smile.